Vehicle rear-end signal



SHIBATARO HARA, DECD.

MRS. SEI HARA, EXECUTRIX.

VEHPCLE REM? END SI GNAL. APPLICATION FILED NOV 21. 191R,

Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l/VVENTO/i 5 Hann- ATTORNEYS un bbl/ WITNESSES SHIBATAROHARA, DECD.

MRS. an HARA. EXi-ICUTRIX.

VEHICLE REAR END SIGNAL.

APPLKCATIUN FILED NOV. 21,!9IR.

Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

-IITHa INVENTOH ,4 TTQRNEYS WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SHIIBATARO HAM, OF MUZQUIZ. MEXICO; MRS. SEI HABA EXECUTRIX 0F SAIDSHIBATABO HARA, DECEASED.

- VEHICLE REAR-END SIGNAL.

Application filed November 21, 1918.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SHIBATARO Hana, a subject of the Emperor of Ja an,and a resident of Muzquiz, Coahuila, Iv exico, have invented a new andImproved Vehicle Rear- End Signal, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are:to provide a signal apparatus which may be employed in daytime as wellas nighttime without adjustment or alteration; to produce perfectsignals located where the usual riding si al is displayed; to simplifythe construction and operation of the signal; to reduce the cost ofconstruction and installation of the signal mechanism; to audibly drawattention to the operating condition of the signal; and to provideoperating mechanism for the signal, which has a simplified constructionand is readily nianipulated.

Drawings.

Figure 1 is a side view of an automobile showin a signal apparatusmounted thereon, sai apparatus being constructed and arranged inaccordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same, the s' nal being disposed as inservice;

ig. 3 is a vertical section of the controller mechanism for operatingthe signal, the section being taken as on the line 3-3 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a'longitudinal section of the same, the section being taken ason the line 4-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of the signal box and signaldrum contained thereon, the section being taken as on the line 55 inFig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a cross section of the same; the section being taken as on theline 6-6 in Fig 5;

ig. 7 is a similar section, the section being taken as on the line 7-7in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a similar section, the section being taken as on the line 88in Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a detail view on an enlar ed scale and in section, showing themetho of attaching the transmission cable to the operating chainsections with which the operating mechanism and the signal druin areboth provided;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

Serial No. 263,554.

Fig. 10 is a detail view on an enlarged scale, showing schematically themanner of constructing and operating the audible sig- Description.

As seen in the drawings, the apparatus provides a hollow cylinder havingheads 16. Theheads 16 are rigidly mounted on a supporting shaft 17. Theends of the shaft 17 are mounted in suitable bearings formed in theplates 18, which are made fast to the ends of the box casing 19.

To rotate the cylinder and heads 16 thereof in both directions, saidheads are furnished at one end with a pulley 20, and at the other endwith a coil spring 21. The inner end of the spring 21 is made fast tothe shaft 17, while the opposite end thereof is permanently secured inthe anchor block 22, which is permanently mounted on the plate 18 at oneend of the casing 19.

Wound about a pulley 20, is a chain plate section 23, to the free end ofwhich is made fast a pull cable or Wire 24. The wire 24 is housed in aflexible tubing 25, secured at the one end to the casing 19 and to theother to the controller box 26, whereon is mounted the signal operatingmechanism.

The cylinder supported by the head 16 is formed from a sheet 27 whereonis imprinted the various signal indications 28 and a red belt 29. Thematerial from which the sheet 27 is made may be glass or fabric,transparent or translucent, butis preferably translucent celluloid. Thesheet may be colored to any suitable tint or shade. It is preferablywhite and the indications 28 are preferably red in corres ondence withthe color of the plate 29. he indications 28 and the plate 29 areequally spaced and correspond with degrees of movement determined by thecontrolling apparatus as hereinafter set forth.

The service position of the said indications and plate is opposite theopening in the casing 19 ordinarily covered by clear glass 30. Throughthe glass 30 in the sides of the cylinder formed by the sheet 27, passesthe rays from the electric light globes 31. As seen best in Fig. 5 ofthe drawings, the globes 31 are mounted in sockets supported in the endsof a yoke 32. The yoke 32 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 17, and iscounterbalanced by a weight 33, which maintains substantially a verticaldisposition of the yoke and the operative position of the globes 31. Theyoke 32. shaft 17, and casing 19, constitute a portion of the ground legof the lighting circuit for said globes. The opposite leg of saidcircuit incorporates a flexible wire lead 34. a wiping ring 35, a wiper36. and wire lead 37, which is carried to a generator or battery as thecase may be. A controlling switch is introduced on the wire 37, where;by the circuit may be introduced for illuminating the globes 31, or fordiscontinuing the illumination thereof.

The cylinder is normally held in its retracted position where the belt29 is opposite the glass 30. The cylinder is retracted to this positionby the operation of the spring 21. Ihe position of the cylinder isdetermined by the stop block 38, which engages a bracket 39. as seenbest in Fig. 6 of the drawings. In daylight. the red colored belt 29shows as a blank through the glass 30 At night when the globes 31 areilluminated. the light passing through the belt 29. gives the red glowof a Ruby or Tail light. This is the usual riding light of an automobileor other vehicle having such equipment. In this position. the audiblesignal with which the apparatus is provided, is discontinued by reasonof the fact that the spring contact -10 of the electric circuitincorporating an audible signal. such as the bell 41. extends into arecess 42 in one of the heads 16, breaking the electric circuit byremoving the contact 40 from the contact 43.

As shown best in Fig. 10 of the drawings, the contacts 40 and 43 areelectrically incorporated with the leads 4-1 of an electric source. suchas the battery 45. It is obvious that when the contacts 40 and 43 areengaged. the circuit in which the bell 41 is incorporated. is energized.This is the con dition of the circuit whenever the apparatus is operatedto dispose one of the indications 29 opposite the clear glass 30. Theaudible signal thus incorporated directs the attention of the driver ofa following vehicle to the visible signal imparted by the indications28.

The cylinder having the heads 16 and sheet 27. is rotated from theretracted position showing the plate 29. to positions showing theindications Stop, Left, and "Right" successively. by means of theoperating mechanism mounted on the controller box 26. The controllingmechanism employs a winding drum 46, which is fixed to a shaft 4.7,provided with a. yoke-shaped operating handle 48. The handle 48 hasmounted thereon a detent bolt 49, which bolt is provided with a grip 50,and is seated by 21.

spiral spring 51 in holes 52 formed in the flexible detcnt strap 55 onthe edge of the controller box 26. as seen best in Fig. 4 of thedrawings.

Anchored by means of a pin 53, is a chain section 54. to which isoperatively connected the wire 24. The wire 24.- is held by theconnecting block 56, a series of connecting screws 57 being providedtherein for this purpose. By means of these screws, any slack in thewire 2-1 may be taken up by inserting the end of the wire farther intothe block 56. The strap is held on the controller box 26 by clamp bolts58. which extend through slots 59 in the said strap to provide a linealadjustment of the strap. 'hen the strap 55 is shifted, the workingpositions of the cylinder and the service positions of the indications28 on the sheet 27 are correspondingly shifted.

Having an apparatus such as shown in the drawings and as abovedescribed, the operation is as follows: The driver of the automobile orother vehicle grasps the grip 50 and lifts the bolt 49 to permitshifting the handle 48 for rotating the drum 46. The drum 46 is moved tothe full forward position and the bolt 49 is permitted to engage theextreme forward hole 52. This permits the spring 21 to retractrotatively the cylinder formed by the sheet 27, until the stop block 38engages the bracket 39. In this position, the belt 29 is opposite theclear glass 30. If the time be night, the illuminating circuit iscompleted to illuminate the globes 31, with the result that the vehiclehas a ruby or red light showing from the rear thereof, conformable tothe trafiic laws.

If. now. the driver contemplates making a turn to the right or left, hegrasps the grip 50 and lifts the bolt 49 from engagement with the strap55, and shifts the handle 48 to the position corresponding with themovement necessary to dispose the indication 28 he desires in front ofthe clear glass 30. The bolt 49 thereafter holds the signal apparatus insignaling condition though the place for making the turn may be somedistance ahead. At the same time an audible signal bell 41 is sounded,owing to the fact that the spring contact 40 has been lifted by the head16 with which it is associated, to engage the contact 43, with theresult that the electric signal for operating said bell 41 is completed.

\Vhen the contemplated turn has been made, the continued ringing of thebell 41 reminds the driver to release his signal, which is accomplishedby engaging the grip 50, lifting the bolt 49, and moving the handle 48and parts connected therewith to the initial or normal position wherethe belt 29 is opposite the clear glass 30. When the belt 29 is inservice position, the contact 40 passes into the recess 42, breaking theoperating circuit for the bell 41, thus discontinuing the audiblesignal.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. A traffic signaling device of the class described and comprising acasing having a window in one side, a metallic axle revolubly mounted inbearings at opposite ends of said casing, a signal drum including atranslucent cylindrical body, and heads, rigidly secured to said metalshaft, visual signals on said cylindrical body, cooperating stop meanscarried by the casing and said cylinder heads and spring meanscooperating with said stop means to maintain the said body in normalposition, electric lamps mounted on a yoke within said body, said yokependulously mounted on said shaft, an electric lighting circuitincluding said lamps, yoke, metal shaft and conducting areas of saidheads, an audible signal circuit held normally open by a cylinder head,and means carried by a cylinder head for closing said audible signalcircuit, when said cylindrical body is positioned to display visualsignals.

2. In a signal device of the class described, the combination of atranslucent visual signal bearing drum, a shaft upon which said drum isrigidly mounted, a wiping ring carried by one head of said drum, a wiperadapted to contact therewith, an electric lamp pendulously mounted onsaid shaft and within the drum, an electric lighting circuit, includinga switch and said lamp, wiping ring, and shaft, said circuit open whenthe signal bearing drum is in normal position, an audible signal circuitnormally open, and means associated with the said drum to close saidaudible signal circuit upon movement of the drum to visual si nalingposition, and maintain such closure (uring entire period of visualsignaling.

3. A signal as characterized, comprising a rotary cylindrical memberprovided with a series of transverse circumfcrentially spaced trafiicindications :thereon, and a translucent belt area on said cylinderspaced from the said traffic indications, said belt area constituting ariding light for use when the vehicle is standing, means for rotatingsaid cylinder to the various signal positions provided therefor,electric lamp means pendulously mounted within the cylinder, an electriccircuit including said ridin light and lamp means, and an audible signaincluded within said circuit and operated by said rotary cylinder whenthe same is moved from the position showing said riding light.

4. A signal device of the class described, comprising a casing having aview opening, a metallic shaft rotatably mounted in said casing atranslucent drum rigidly secured to said shaft within said casing, alamp holder pendulously mounted on. said shaft, said holder comprising apair of spaced apart socket members, contacting with said shaft and apendant yoke connecting the same, a counterweight carried by said yoke,and a lighting circuit including said shaft socket members and the yoke.

SHIBATARO HARA.

